Magnetic separator



Jan. 8, 1946. R. M. TUNIS MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Original Filed Oct. 10, 1941 Will i.

TU BEARINGS Inventor jfi'chdrd M Tunis,

Patented Jan. 8, 1946 MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Richard M. Tunis, Kennett Square, Pa.

Original application October 10, 1941, Serial No. 414,511. Divided and this application April 12, 1944, 86118.1 N0. 530,693

4 Claims.

- This invention relates to magnetic separators, and the present application is a division of my pending application upon filtering device, Serial No. 414,511, filed October 10, 1941.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic separator especially adapted for use in an oil line of the lubricatin system for an internal combustion engine or the like, whereby metallic particles may be removed from the oil in its passage to the engine bearings to thereby prevent detrimental action of the metal particles upon said bearings.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide, in a magnetic separator of the above character, a separator unit including a dome-shaped cover member of a form and size to replace the ordinary cover of similar shape commonly employed upon oil filters of the socalled cartridge type, said cover member having a horizontal electromagnet suspended therefrom and disposed in the lower portion thereof in position to lie immediately above the cartridge of the filter when the cover member is applied to the filter casing. Thus, with a minimum of difiiculty and expense, the conventional cartridge filter can be modified to include a magnetic separator by means-of which metallic particles may be removed from the oil in its passage to the engine hearings, in addition to the usual filtering operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic separator unit of the above kind wherein the electromagnet has a central aperture to facilitate passage of oil therethrough and to provide clearance for the auxiliary outlet tube usually provided at the top of a cartridge filter.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic separator of the above kind in which simple and eiilcientmeans is provided for supporting the electromagnet and facilitating connection of conductor wires thereto.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic separator of the above kind in-which the dome-shaped cover member that supports the electromagnet is provided with a depending central supporting arm having a deflector or shield fixed to the lower end thereof, by means of which the metallic articles released from the electromagnet and falling to the bottom of the separator may be distributed outwardly upon the convex bottom of the separator casing, whereby drainage of the separator may be effected without likelihood of the drain cook of the separator becoming clogged, and whereby the metallic particles collected upon the bottom of the separator are not likely to be readily picked up and carried along with the oil from the separator to the engine bearings.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a cartridge-type of oil filter equipped with an electromagnetic separator unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the electromagnet and its supporting elements or hangers.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a complete magnetic separator constructed in accordance with the present invention and embodying a separator unit of the type employed in the construction of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the separator of Figure 3 installed in an oil line of an engine lubricating system in series with a conventional cartridge-type of filter.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 4, 5 indicates the casing of a conventional cartridgetype oil filter, in which the filter cartridge Ii is disposed about an outlet tube I and in spaced concentric relation to and within the casing 5. The outlet tube 1 opens through the bottom of the casing 5, as at 8, and the top of the cartridge casing is perforated, as at l3. Casing 5 has a bottom inlet l4, and yieldingly suspended from a dome-shaped cover member l5 by means of a spring I6 is a secondary or auxiliary outlet tube l'l whose lower end fits in the upper end of the outlet tube I. Normally, the oil passes through the cartridge and enters the lower portion of outlet tube 1 through apertures i8. However,"

a spring-seated check valve I9 is provided in the outlet tube I above the perforations II, and its purpose is to permit the oil to escape without passing through the cartridge in case the pressure oi. oil builds up too high within the casing 5. In that event, the oil will flow into the auxiliary tube I! and force the valve l9 to open so that the oil may pass out of the tube 1 thruugh the lower end of the latter. As indicated at lid in Figure 4, this cartridge-type of filter ordinarily has a dome-shaped cover similar to the cover l5 as to size and shape and as to provision of marginal apertures for reception of fastening screws 20 by means of which the cover member may be secured upon the open top of the casing 5. In accordance with the present invention, however, the cover member I5 is adapted to replace the usual cover member in and may be provided with means at 2| to engage and hold the upper end of the spring l6 which fits over the tube l1 and bears at its lower end upon a disc [8 resting on a gasket IQ of the filter. The domeshaped cover member l5 has an electromagnet 22 suspended therefrom and disposed within the lower portion of the same. The magnet is suspended by tubular hangers 23 of insulating material fixed to opposite sides of the magnet and secured at their upper ends in openings of the cover member I5. Conductor wires 24 pass through the cover member 15 and the hangers 23 and are connected to the winding of the magnet 22. It will thus be seen that I have provided a separator unit including the cover member 15 and the electromagnet 22 suspended therefrom and disposed therein, said cover member l5 being adapted to replace the usual similarly-shaped cover member of a cartridge-type filter. By means of this unit, therefore, the -filter may be readily modified to include a magnetic separator in a minimum amount of time and at a minimum expense. The electromagnet will be disposed to fit over the auxiliary outlet tube ll of the filter and to occupy a position directly above the perforated top of the cartridge casing of the filter. Any suitable switch may be connected with the wires 24 for controlling the fiow of electric current to'the electromagnet 22. As the oil flows adjacent the electromagnet as well as through it in surrounding relation to tube l1, any me.- tallic particlesin the oil will be attracted to the electromagnet and retained thereby until the electromagnet is de-energized for removal of the metallic particles therefrom. This is preferably done after removing the separator unit from the casing 5. As shown clearly in Figure 2, the electromagnet is simply in the form of a fiat annulus of any suitable or preferred construction.

In Figure 3, there is shown an embodiment of the invention adapted to be used separately from the filter and arranged in series with the latter within the oil line as illustrated in Figure 4. This embodiment includes a casing 5b on which the cover member I5!) is secured by the screws 2012. said casing 5b having a concave or rounded bottom 25 provided with a central drain cook 28. Also, the casing 5b is provided near the top with diametrically opposed inlet and outlet connections 21 and 28. The electromagnet 22b, which is similar to the electromagnet 22, is suspended from the cover member l5b by tubular hangers 23b of insulating material. The conductor wires 24b extend through the hangers 23b for connection with the electromagnet. Rigid with and depending from the cover member [5b, centrally of the latter, is a hanger rod 29 having a conical deflector or shield 30 fixed on its lower end near the bottom of the casing 5b. Hanger 29 extends through the central opening of the magnet 222). In the operation of this embodiment, the oil passes across the magnet 22b from the inlet connection 21 to the outlet connection 28, as well as filling the casing 5b. In its passage, the oil is;

relieved of metallic particles by attraction of the same to the magnet 22b. Whenever desired, the magnet may be de-energized to release the metallic particles and permit them to fall to the bottom of the casing 5b. When this is done, the particles \m'll be deflected-outwardly on the bottom 25 of the casing. Thus,danger of clogging the drain cook 26 is minimized when the separator is drained, and the likelihood of the particles being picked up and carried out of the easing with the oil is minimized.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a cartridge-type oil filter embodying a casing having a removable dome-shaped cover and provided with an inlet and a central outlet tube, said outlet tube projecting upwardly into said cover, an annular electromagnet of a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the lower portion of said cover, tubular hangers attached to the cover and suspending the electromagnet centrally of and within the lower portion of said cover so that the outlet tube passes centrally upwardly through said electromagnet, and feed wires for the electromagnet passing upwardly through the hangers and the cover.

2. A magnetic separator comprising a casing having inlet and outlet connections to facilitate interposing the separator in an oil line of a lubricating system, a removable dome-shaped cover on said casing, an annular electromagnet of a diameter smaller than the casing, tubular hangers attached to the cover and suspending the electromagnet centrally of the casing at the bottom of the cover, and feed wires for the electromagnet passing upwardly through the hangers and the cover.

3. A magnet separator comprising a casing having inlet and outlet connections to facilitate interposing the separator in an oil line of a lubricating system, a removable dome-shaped cover on said casing, an annular electromagnet of a diameter smaller than the casing, tubular hangers attached to the cover and suspending the electromagnet centrally of the casing at the bottom of the cover, and feed wires for the electromagnet passing upwardly through the hangers and the cover, a, vertical supporting arm fixed to the cover centrally of the "latter and depending therefrom centrally through the electromagnet, and a conical deflector carried by the lower end of said supporting arm, said casing having a concave bottom provided with a central drain cock.

4. In a magnetic separator for oil lines, a dome-shaped cover member, an annular electromagnet of a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the lower portion of said cover member, tubular hangers attached to, the cover member and suspending the electromagnet centrally of and adjacent the lower portion of said cover member, and feed wires for the electromagnet passing upwardly through the hangers and the cover member.

RICHARD M. 'I'UNIS. 

